Ahead of the Qatar World Cup getting underway, we take a look at some of the names in the frame to be awarded the Golden Glove as the tournament's best goalkeeper.
Bet on the World Cup Golden Glove winner
Growing into one of the most impressive goalkeepers in Europe following his big-money move from Roma to Liverpool in 2018, Alisson has established himself as his country’s number one despite stiff opposition from Manchester City shot-stopper Ederson.
The recipient of the first ever Lev Yashin Trophy in 2019, awarded to the best performing goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards, Alisson also finished in second place in the standings this year.
With Brazil favourites to win their sixth World Cup title in Qatar, a strong showing from Liverpool’s number one could also see him come away with the Golden Glove.
This year’s recipient of the Lev Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris after an outstanding campaign for Real Madrid, Thibaut Courtois is also the most recent winner of the World Cup Golden Glove having shone for Belgium at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Putting in an inspired display in the Champions League final against Liverpool in May as Los Blancos secured their 14th title, Courtois made a staggering nine saves on the night.
The imposing 6ft 7in tall goalkeeper will be hoping to transfer his club exploits to the international scene once more as Belgium attempt to bring home their nation’s first ever World Cup title after finishing in third place in Russia four years ago.
The winner of the World Cup Golden Glove in 2014 as Germany were crowned champions, Manuel Neuer is still consistently performing at the highest level for Bayern Munich.
Famed as a sweeper keeper, rapid off his line and adept with the ball at his feet, Neuer will be Germany’s captain at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
This responsibility gives Neuer the platform to lead by example, and at 36 years old the Qatar showpiece may just represent his last chance to shine for his country on the biggest stage and join an exclusive list of players to win the competition on two separate occasions.
Attaining number one status for Spain over the last couple of years, Unai Simon is a goalkeeper with a fast-growing reputation.
Starting all of Luis Enrique’s men’s matches at the Euros last summer as La Furia Roja reached the semi-finals, Simon was awarded Star of the Match at the quarter-finals stage after saving two penalties in Spain’s penalty shootout victory over Switzerland.
At 25 years old, the Athletic Bilbao keeper has potential to improve even further, and a strong World Cup showing may just see him attract interest from some of Europe’s major clubs.
Becoming the third goalkeeper in World Cup history to lift the trophy as team captain in 2018, after Italian Dino Zoff in 1982 and Spaniard Iker Casillas in 2010, France skipper Hugo Lloris will be hoping to get hands on the World Cup once more in Qatar this winter.
The 35-year-old Spurs stopper remains Didier Deschamps’ number one for Les Bleus ahead of the Qatar Finals, and casts an experienced and dependable figure in the French goal.
With France boasting one of the strongest squads in the competition and hotly tipped for success in Qatar, Lloris and co will be hoping to avoid the fate of previous World Cup holders with the last three winners having fallen in the group stages of the subsequent tournament.
After years in the wilderness of top-level football as a reserve goalkeeper at Arsenal, Emiliano Martinez has enjoyed an impressive renaissance in recent years to become Argentina’s number one.
Now an established first-choice Premier League goalkeeper at Aston Villa, Martinez has also become an extremely valuable member of an Argentina side currently on a record-breaking run of 32 internationals without defeat.
The 30-year-old earned the Golden Glove and national hero status during Argentina’s victorious Copa America run last year, saving three penalties in Lionel Scaloni’s side’s semi-final shootout victory against Colombia.
This penalty-saving pedigree could put Martinez firmly in the frame for further individual recognition following this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.
Placing third in the Yashin Trophy standings both this year and in 2019, Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson is recognised as one of the outstanding goalkeepers in the world.
Renowned for his phenomenal distribution, boasting a left foot even the most technically gifted of midfielders would be proud of, Ederson has been an integral part of Pep Guardiola’s winning machine at City in recent years.
The 29-year-old’s excellence at club level has not been enough to see him usurp Premier League rival Alisson as his country’s number one however, and his hopes of the Golden Glove are likely to rely on an injury to his Liverpool counterpart.
Handed his competitive international debut in Portugal’s World Cup play-off semi-final win against Turkey in March, the Porto goalkeeper looks set to go to this winter’s Finals as his country’s number one.
Preferred to Roma’s Rui Patricio and Wolves’ Jose Sa by Portugal manager Fernando Santos in recent internationals, 23-year-old Costa has become one of the most promising young 'keepers in Europe.
An impressive World Cup campaign would only increase Costa’s stock further, with clubs of the stature of Manchester United and Barcelona having already been credited with an interest in the Portuguese shot-stopper.
Starting every game as Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands side finished in third place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Cillessen will be hoping for another positive World Cup in Qatar this winter after the Dutch failed to qualify for the Russia Finals four years ago.
Currently on the books of Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen, the ex-Barcelona shot-stopper will be guarded by a formidable-looking Dutch backline in Qatar which will include the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Mathijs de Ligt and Nathan Ake.
Cillessen has a fight on his hands to secure a starting berth for the Netherlands ahead of the World Cup, however, with 38-year-old Ajax keeper Remko Pasveer having started the last two internationals under Louis van Gaal.
Finishing last summer’s Euros with the most clean sheets, England’s Jordan Pickford was pipped to the Golden Glove award by Italian counterpart Gianluigi Donnarumma on the back of his penalty shootout heroics in the final.
With the Everton goalkeeper still England manager Gareth Southgate’s preferred option in goal, Pickford will be hoping for another positive campaign in what will mark his third major tournament as his country’s number one.
An agile keeper with the ability to pull off acrobatic saves, Pickford looks good value as an outside bet to take home the Golden Glove prize at this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.
We use cookies to deliver a better and more personalised service. For more information, see our Cookie Policy